May 30, 2022 - Memorial Day | National Mint Julep Day

Welcome to May 30, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we remember our fallen heroes and celebrate the spirit of the South. Of all the wars Americans have fought, none had more casualties than the Civil War—over 500,000 people in total. Memorial gatherings became a tradition each spring, with communities visiting the cemeteries to place flowers on the graves and pay respects. In 1868, General John A. Logan, declared a nationwide day of remembrance. A day “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country…and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” May 30th was chosen because it didn’t coincide with the date of any particular battle. This eventually became known as Memorial Day, which we celebrate today on the final Monday of May. If you’ve ever been to the American South you have likely been offered one of two drinks. Sweet tea is consumed in this part of the country almost as much as water. But for the non teetotaler, nothing is more Southern than the mint julep. A julep is a sweet beverage that was once served to literally make the medicine go down. From there it graduated to a grownup cocktail that included water, gin, sugar, and muddled mint leaves. Today the mint julep goes hand in glove with the Kentucky Derby and is made with bourbon instead of gin. An estimated 120,000 mint juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the two day event. On National Mint Julep Day, celebrate that sweet Southern style with this refreshing Summer drink. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices